A fidget quilt is a small quilt (similar to a large placemat) with a variety of textures and movable parts to provide stimulation and reduce anxiety for fidgeting hands. A single fidget is a smaller item (similar to a pot holder) with one activity.
Each year, the guild members make many fidgets, but the Long Term Care facilities in town are constantly asking us for more fidgets because they are so popular!
A fidget quilt is meant to sit on a lap or a wheelchair tray, so think about this when deciding on what size you will make. Common sizes could be 18” square, 16” x 24” or 12” x 18”. The size doesn’t matter as long as the finished fidget quilt has a few different sections.
The different sections include:
- Texture
- Trims
- Noise
- Movement
- Velcro
- Zippers and
- Doodads.
Here are some examples of the types of fidget blocks you can make:
Texture
Any fabric that feels different. Fur and soft fabrics like fleece are a favourite, and we try to make half the fidget quilt top out of a soft fabric.
Trims
Provide texture and movement. Can be applied flat on fabric or to emphasize something like a pocket. Some quilters like to add pockets or belt loops from old garments.
Noise
- Clicks can be made by sandwiching a metal lid between two pieces of fabric. Canning or spaghetti sauce lids work well because they “click” when pressed in the middle. Insert ribbon or elastic and attach securely on both ends.
- Crinkle plastic (chip bags, cereal box liners, etc), either flat or in a tube, also works well for noise.
We recommend not having more than one noise making element per fidget quilt because too much noise can be over stimulating.
Movement
Items that can be pulled or moved such as elastic, hair ties, or beads on ribbon.
Velcro
Pulls, flaps with something hidden underneath, or an object that can come on and off with elastic or ribbon. Ensure that the loop (soft) side of the Velcro is on the piece that will be handled the most.
Zippers
A zipper “to nowhere” with a contrasting piece of fabric underneath, or a small zippered bag. Make sure to attach something like a button or extra piece of ribbon to the pull to make opening the zipper easier.
Doodads
This could be a small stuffed toy, a thread spool, a loyalty card with a hole punched in it, etc. These items can be attached with ribbon or elastic.
Finishing a Fidget Quilt
Once the top is finished, the Fidget Quilt can be finished like any other quilt with batting and a backing. The backing can be any fabric, but not something that is going to be slippery and slide off a lap. It can be finished with a binding, or more simply finished with the pillowcase method of sewing the layers right sides together and leaving an opening to turn it right side out. Close the hole by top stitching around the edge.
Somewhere along the edge, put a loop so the Fidget Quilt can be secured so it is less likely to fall on the floor.
Note: Know your recipient. Generally, we don’t recommend any item that might be harmful to put in your mouth, or that won’t survive being washed. Specifically, don’t include any wooden objects, possibly sharp metal or anything that looks like candy.
Also, ensure that all elements of a fidget are securely fastened.